Solution

Catalyzing carbon, water, and biodiversity incentives

This solution addresses compromised health of forests and natural resources in Caribbean, Africa, South America, SW Asia for local communities and other stewards of our natural resources

  • Wood nature sunny forest

Problem Description

Forest Trends is a Washington, DC-based international non-profit organization that was created in 1998 by leaders from conservation organizations, forest products firms, research groups, multilateral development banks, private investment funds, and philanthropic foundations. Forest Trends’ mission is to maintain, restore, and enhance forests and connected natural ecosystems, which provide life-sustaining processes, by promoting incentives stemming from a broad range of ecosystem services and products. Specifically, Forest Trends seeks to catalyze the development of integrated carbon, water, and biodiversity incentives that deliver real conservation outcomes and benefits to local communities and other stewards of our natural resources. Forest Trends analyzes strategic market and policy issues; catalyzes connections between producers, communities and investors; and develops new financial tools to help markets work for conservation and people.

Building Blocks

Story

Beginning in 1996, a small group of leaders from forest industry, donors, and environmental groups began to meet to consider the array of challenges facing forest conservation and began to identify common ground. This group recognized the respective contributions and limits of their own institutions and decided to create a new organization - Forest Trends - to expand this work of bridging traditional divides and promoting market-based approaches to forest conservation.

Photos

  • Wood nature sunny forest

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
STAGE SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING FINANCE REQUIRED KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED GOAL
Developing and implementing5
Strong leadership, management, implementation skills
  • Policy design
  • Programme design
  • Business modelling
  • Organisational design
  • Prepare for some adaptation to implementation
MEDIUM
  • Programme funds, equity, loans, grants
HIGH
A robust and detailed case developed through formal evaluation and evidence gathering – use of a control group to isolate impact
An implemented and sustainable innovation

Submitted By

Bryan Lehrer74310022 copy

Key Details

Activity